lyons



March 22, 1955 Filed Dec. 17 1951 E. A. LY ONS ROTATING TOYS 3 Sheets-Sheet l 717/16; VII-III? INVENTOR.

EDMUND ARTHUR LYoNs WHEAT) March 22, 1955 Filed Dec. 17

E. A. LYONS 2,704,462

ROTATING TOYS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Emma ARTHUR Lyons March 22, 1955 LYONS 2,704,462

ROTATING TOYS Filed Dec. 17,1951 3 Sheets-Sheet a INVENTOR. Emma ARTHUR LYoNS United States Patent ROTATING TOYS Edmund Arthur Lyons, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application December 17, 1951, Serial No. 262,095

2 Claims. (Cl. 74217) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a toy roundabout.

More specifically, the present invention proposes the construction of a toy roundabout having a rotatively mounted vertically extended post arranged in a manner to rotate suspended toy aircraft in an ever increasing circle as the rate of speed of rotation of the post is increased and which is alsoused to rotate watercraft on the surface of a body of water which surrounds the vertical post adjacent its bottom end.

Another object of the present invention proposes having the roundabout constructed to include a hollow base from which the vertical post is extended and upon which a shallow pan is mounted in a concentric position encircling the vertical post so as to contain the water upon which the watercraft are to float.

Still further, the present invention proposes providing the top end of the vertical post with radially extended arms from which the toy aircraft are suspended and providing the vertical post at a point spaced slightly above the pan with radially extended arms to which the watercraft are connected so that as the post is rotated both the aircraft and the watercraft will be rotated in a circle.

As a further object, the present invention proposes providing a motor within the hollow base which is connected to the vertical post by means of an elastic drive band in a manner to cause the vertical post to be rotated when the motor is energized.

The present invention further proposes adjustably mounting the motor with manually operable means for spacing the motor with relation to the vertical post in a manner to cause the elastic drive band to be extended with proper tension to insure rotation of the vertical post when the motor is energized.

A still further object of the present invention prop'oses constructing the vertical post so that the engagement of the elastic drive band therewith can be adjusted in a manner to control the rate of speed at which the vertical post will be rotated when the motor is enerized. b It is a further object of the present invention to construct a toy roundabout of the type disclosed which is simple and durable and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to. the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

On the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of the toy roundabout constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 1 with certain of the aircraft omitted and with the cover of the hollow base removed. I

Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a partial vertical sectional view taken sub stantially'on the line 55 of Fig. 4

Fig. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the outer end portion of one of the arms which extends radially from the top end of the vertical post.

ice

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of one of the aircraft.

The toy roundabout, according to the present invention, includes a hollow base 10 having a bottom wall 11, spaced side walls 12 and 14 and end walls 15 and 16. The top of the hollow base 10 is open. A portion of the open top of the hollow base 10 is closed by a circular platform 17 secured to the side walls 12 and 14 and the end wall 15 in any desired manner. That portion of the open top of the hollow base 10 which is not closed by the fixedly mounted platform 17, is closed by a cover 18, see particularly Fig. 5. The cover 18 is removably secured in position by several screws 19 which are passed through the side edge portions of the cover and into the top of the side walls 12 and 14. The cover 18 is made removable to provide access to the parts, to be hereinafter referred to, which are mounted within the base 10.

The platform 17 is formed with a concentric hole 20 and rested concentrically on the top face of the platform 17, there is a shallow pan 21. The top edges of the side walls of the pan 21 continue into an outwardly extended flange 22 and the pan is secured in position on the platform by means of screws 23 which are passed downward through the flange 22 and into blocks 24 positioned at diametrically opposite sides of the pan.

The blocks 24 are fixedly mounted on the top face of the platform 17. The pan 21 is provided to be filled with water to the level indicated by the dot and dash line A on Fig. 5. At its center, the pan 21 is formed with an upstanding tube 25 which is arranged concentric 'with the center hole 20 of the platform 17. The inside diameter of the tube 25 is somewhat greater than the diameter of the hole 20. As clearly shown in Fig. 5, the tube 25 is extended some distance above the top of the side walls of the pan 21 so as to eliminate the "possibility of any of the water contained in the pan being splashed down into the interior of the tube'25 to eventually find its way into the interior of the base 10 through the hole 20.

Positioned within the tube 25 and fixedly mounted in "the hole 20, there is a tubular bearing block 26. The

bearing block 26 has its bottom end flush with the bottom face of the platform 17 and its top end flush with the top end of the tube 25. Extended rotatively through the bearing block 26, there is a vertical post 27 which extends a considerable distance above the top end of the bearing block, as best shown in Fig. 1. The bottom end portion of the vertical post 27 is extended into the base 10 and rotatively retained in position by means of a U-shaped bracket 28. The bracket 28 is bolted to a block 29 which is extended between the inner faces of the side walls 12 and 14, see Fig. 4, and secured to the inner face of the adjacent end wall 15. Fixedly mounted on the post 27 immediately adjacent the bottom end of the bearing block 26, there is a collar 30 which retainsembodiment of the invention comprise three small floatable boats preferably molded of artistically colored synthetic resinous materials in order to enhance the appearance of the roundabout. Fixedly mounted on the vertical post 27 closely adjacent the top end of the bearing block 26, there is a disc 32 of two part construction.

The upper part of the disc 32 is recessed to mount the inner ends of radially extended downwardly curved arms 33. The inner ends of the arms 33 are secured in position within their respective recesses by means of screws :34 which also secure the parts of the disc 32 together,

see Fig. 5.

The outer ends of the arms 33 are curved downward to be located just slightly above the top of the front ends of the hulls of the watercraft 31. Flexible cords 35 are used to secure each of the watercraft to the outer 'end of one of the arms 33,- so that there is one arm for each of the watercraft. The connection of the watercraft 31 to the outer ends of the arms 33 causes the watercraft to be pulled in a circle on the surface of the water contained in the pan 21 as the vertical post 27 is rotated.

Fixedly mounted on the top end of the vertical post Patented Mar. 22, 1955 27, see Figs. 1 and 2-, thereisa small flag 36. Carried by the vertical post 27. immediately below theflag 36, there is a collar 37 from which a plurality of equally spaced arms 38 are radially extended. Mounted on the top face of. alternate arms 38, adjacent the outer ends thereof, there are small aeroplanes 39, each of which has a propeller 40 which spinsin the breeze as the. post 27 is rotated. The outer ends of the arms 38-which are not provided with one of the aeroplanes 39, have upstanding flags 41 mounted thereon, which flags are similar to the flag 36.

Aircraft 42 are suspended from the outer ends of the arms 38. Each of the aircraft 42 is in the form of a miniature aeroplane molded from a synthetic resinous material to simulate jet-type aeroplanes. The aircraft 42 are each supported by an elongated cord 43 which has its intermediate portion passed slidably through spaced holes 44, see Fig. 7, formed in the respective aircraft. The free ends of the cords 43 are tied into loops 45. The bottom face of each arm 38, adjacent its free end, see Figs. 1 and 6. is provided with a pair of radially spaced hooks 46. The loops 45' on the free ends of the cords 43 of each of the aircraft 42, are engaged with either the inner or outer hooks 46 of an adjacent pair of arms 38. Thus, when the post 27 is rotated centrifugal force will cause the aircraft 42 to be swung outward and move in a circle of ever increasing diameter as the speed of rotation of the post 27 increases. It is appreciated, of course, that with the loops 45 engaged with the outermost hooks 46 of the arms 38, the diameter of the circular path transcribed by the aircraft 42 will be larger than if the loops 45 are engaged with the innermost hooks 46. Thus, the two sets of hooks 46 provide an adjustment for controlling the diameter of the circular path of the aircraft.

Means is provided within the hollow base 10 for rotating the vertical post 27 to move the watercraft 31 and the aircraft 42 and cause the propellers 40 on the aeroplanes 39 to spin as the arms 38 turn with the post. The rotating means is characterized by a small electric motor 50 located within the hollow baselO and fixedly secured to the bott m face of a slide 51 by several screws 52. The slide 51 is of a lateral width corresponding to the s ace between the inner faces of the side walls 12 and 14 of the base 10. see Figs. 3 and 4. The side edges of the slide 51 are slidably rested on the top ed es of guide plates 53 secured to the inner faces of the side walls 12 and 14 so that the slide together with the motor 50 can be slid horizontally toward and away from the vertical post 27. The driven shaft 54 of the motor 50 is extended upward through a hole 55 formed in the slide 51 and carries an elongated spool 56 which is fixedly secured thereto. A continuous elastic drive band 57 is engaged about the spool 56 and at its diametricallv opposite side is enga ed about a ste ped spool 58 fixedly mounted on 5 the vertical post 27 within the base 10. The stepped spool 58 has a' bottom portion 58 of maximum diameter, a central portion 58 of intermediate diameter and a top portion 58 of minimum diameter. The speed of rotati n of the vertical post 27 will be varied in accordance with the por ion of the stepped spool 58 about which the drive band 57 is engaged.

To provide an entrance to the interior of the hollow casin so that the drive band 57 can be engaged with the desired portion 58*. 58 or 58 of the stepped spool 58. the end wall of the hollow casing 10, is formed with a small entrance opening, closed bv a corresponding door 59 pivotallv sup orted along its bottom edge bv hinges 60. The door 59 is retained in a closed position by a snap latch 61 which can be moved to an inoperative position by a knob 62 exposed at the outer side of the door 59. The knob 62 further provides a grin by whi h the door 59 can be moved to an open position. When the d or 59 is o en. ones hand can be inserted into the hollow base 10 for engaging the elasti drive band 57 with the desired portion of the stepped spool 58 so that the vertical post 27 will be rotated at the desired rate of speed by the motor 50.

Means is provided for holding the slide 51 in the desired shifted position on the top edges of the guide plates 53. for tensioning the elastic drive band 57 to have the proper frictional contact with the spools 56 and 58 to drive the vertical post 27. That means is characterized by tension springs 63 which operate between holes 64 formed in the edge portion of the slide 51 facing the post 27 and hooks 65 mounted on the inner faces of the side walls 12. and 14. The tension springs 63 exert a force.

' bracket 66 at the junction of its arms. An enlarged head 68, see particularly Fig. 4, retains the screw 67 from being pulled out of its engagement with the bracket 66. The intermediate portion of'the screw 67 is extended through a hole formed in the end wall 16 of. the hollow case and threadedly engaged through a tubular bushing 69. The bushing 69 is secured to the outer face of the end wall 16 concentric with the hole in the end wall through which the screw 67 passes. The outer end of the screw 67 is formed with an enlarged knob 70 by which the screw 67 can be turned in one direction or the other.

As the screw 67 is turned in a direction to move axially outward with relation to the end wall 16, the slide 51 will be pulled against the action of the springs 63. The motor 50 will move with the slide 51 with the result that the space between the driven shaft 54 of the motor and the vertical post 27 will be increased; Increasing the space will cause the elastic drive band 57 to be stretched increasingits frictional contact with the spools 56 and 58 with the result that the vertical post 27 will be rotated when sufiicient frictional contact is present. Turning the screw 67 to move axially inward will free the slide 51 to be moved by the springs 63 to move the driven shaft 54 closer to the vertical post 27. That will relieve the tension on the elastic drive band 57 and reduce the frictional contact of the band with the spools 56 and 58 with the result that the band will slip over the spool 56 destroying the drive to the vertical post 27.

Circuit means is provided for energizing the motor 50. The circuit means includes a plug 71, see Figs. 2 and 3, for insertion into a standard volt outlet receptacle. Extending from the plug 71, there is a pair of leads 72 and 73. The other end of the lead 72 is connected to one terminal of a toggle switch 74 mounted through the end wall 16 of the hollow base 10. The other end of the lead 73 is connected to one terminal of the motor 50. A third lead 75 is connected between the other terminal of the toggle switch 74 and the other terminal of the electric motor 50. Thus, when the plug 71 is in position in an outlet receptacle and the switch 74 is turned on, the motor 50 will be energized.

The manner of using the roundabout to amuse children or for display purposes in store windows or the like is as follows:

First, the'plug 71 is inserted into the outlet receptacle and the toggle switch 74 is turned on. That will cause the motor 50 to be energized to drive the vertical post 27 through the spool 56, the elastic drive band 57 and the stepped spool 58. As the vertical post 27 is turned, the watercraft 31 will be pulled in a circle on the surface of the water contained in the pan 21. At the same time, the aircraft 42 will be swung outward by the action of centrifugal force to transcribe an ever increasing circle until the maximum speed of rotation of the vertical post 27 is attained, at which point the diameter of the circle will remain constant.

If the elastic band 57 should be slipping on the spools 56 and 58 with the result that the vertical post 27 is not being rotated. it is merely necessary to turn the screw 67 outward. Outward movement of the screw 67 is continued until the elastic band 57 is under sulficient tension to have proper frictional contact with the spools 5'6 and 58 to drive the vertical post 27.

The speed of rotation of the vertical post 27 can be varied by engaging the elastic band 57 with a desired portion 58 58 or 58 of the stepped spool 58. To permit that adjustment of the elastic band 57 on the stepped spool 58, the toggle switch 74 is turned off momentarily and the door 59 is opened. Ones hand is then inserted through the opening in the end wall 15' which results from the opening of the door 59 and the elastic band 57 is engaged with the desired portion 58*, 58 or 58 of the stepped spool 58. When the proper adjustment is reached, the door 59 is reclosed and the toggle switch 74 is again turned on.

anism can be had by removing the cover 18 by taking out the screws 19.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is: I

1. In a drive mechanism for a toy roundabout, a hollow base, a shaft secured in said base and extending vertically therefrom, a slide secured in said base, a motor secured to said slide and depending therefrom, tension means urging said slide to horizontal movement toward said shaft, a V-shaped bracket horizontally secured to said slide, adjusting means engaging said bracket to adjust said movement, a driven shaft extending vertically from said motor and a drive band connecting said shafts whereby rotation of said driven shaft rotates said vertical shaft to operate the toy, said base including a top, an aperture in said top, said vertical shaft extending through said top and a stepped spool on said shaft, said spool selectively receiving an endless drive band in order to control speed of rotation of said shaft.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said slide consists of an apertured plate, said tension means being secured in said apertures and fixed to the base and a threaded stem threaded at one end through a side of said base and rotatably mounted but axially fixed at its other end in the base of said V-bracket to adjust the tension of the band by movement against the force of the tension means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 439,003 Hanson Oct. 21, 1890 848,061 Smith Mar. 26, 1907 1,605,465 Reeves Nov. 2, 1926 2,196,891 Berndt Apr. 9, 1940 2,211,050 Boice Aug. 13, 1940 2,364,855 Kampstad Dec. 12, 1944 2,594,674 Nietfeld Apr. 29, 1952 2,613,931 Singer Oct. 14, 1952 

